South African Woman Has Triplets–Again

Comstock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Her doctor called it a miracle. But to a woman in South Africa, giving birth a second time to naturally conceived triplets is not something she had wished.

“There is no rest… It’s all about the babies,” Rebecca Phejane told the Sowetan newspaper.

The 27-year-old from Mahikeng said she feels both blessed and overwhelmed to suddenly have twice as many kids. Last week, she delivered two girls and a boy, all healthy and weighing more than 4 pounds each. Little Omphile, Olerato and Omolemo now join their 4-year-old triplet siblings, Oratile, Onthatile and Letlotlo.

Multiple births are becoming more common because of the increased use of fertility treatments, but doctors say it is almost unheard of for a woman to naturally conceive triplets more than once. It is even more unlikely given Phejane’s young age. Women have higher chances of giving birth to multiples when they are 35 or older.

Having fed, bathed, diapered, and soothed three babies before, Phejane knows how challenging it will be to care for her new triplets. She is hoping people in her community will offer some help.

“It does not have to be money. I need physical help, and if someone has disposable nappies or formula milk or clothes to donate, I would appreciate it,” Phejane said.

She and the six children will live with her unemployed mother. They will rely on a state child grant and the babies’ father, a contract worker at a mine, for support.